Top clubs worry continues for coach saga

Maatey and Suzain in season opening match; both of them are written as officials of the team

Male', MALDIVES - First division clubs face an issue they never experienced before as FAM’s executive committee decided that first division clubs must have an AFC ‘A’ licensed coach on the bench. The result came bitter even from the start of the season where Victory had to list their head coach and his assistant as officials.

Victory head coach Mauroof and assistant coach Ali Suzeynu are just AFC ‘B’ licensed coaches and Victory’s general secretary Marzoog (Marey) bullish FAM’s decision to have an ‘A’ licensed coach.

“That’s a foolish decision, we have six clubs in first division and where can we get A licensed coaches” Marey said.

“FAM conducted only one AFC ‘A’ license course and even that was conducted in such away more convenient for FAM coaches. That course was conducted during AFC Cup and Niyaz ruled out, so did Maatey and Nizambe (Vyansa coach)”

Marey further added Victory is not going involve in this matter and they are not going to complain regarding the issue as well.

“We will not involve in this matter, we don’t care at all. We will list them (coaches) as officials”

“Even AFC decided that a ‘B’ license coach can coach a team in AFC tournaments until 2010 and we don’t understand why Maldives has to make this decision”

Vyansa chairman Wisham said they were so much against it when executive committee finalized the decision and added that this will put smaller clubs into a grave situation.

“When FAM’s executive committee talked about this, Vyansa stood against it. Because that’s an unacceptable rule and Vyansa didn’t vote for that” Wisham said.

Wisham also said that FAM’s technical committee has decided to accept Nizam’s UEFA ‘B’ license as a similar level of AFC ‘A’ license.

“Technical committee decided that. Even last night Nizam was there as a coach and he was even listed as a coach” Wisham said.

But FAM’s interim committee secretary Shah Ismail said AFC didn’t consider UEFA ‘B’ license as same standard of AFC ‘A’ license.

New Radiant and VB Sports are the only clubs that have a coach qualified for FAM’s standard. Both Laszlo Kiss of Hungary and Gerd Fredrich of Germany hold a coaching license that meets FAM’s standard.

Maziya coach Ismail Mahfooz (Imma) and Valencia coach (Binma) Abdullah Waheed are also AFC ‘B’ licensed coaches and both of these teams will face the same problem.
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